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Taylor, Pair Homer, But Saints Beat Canaries 6-3

ST. PAUL, MN — Jake Taylor and Michael Pair each hit solo homers, but drop the series finale to the St. Paul Saints 6-3 on Thursday night at CHS Field.

Stephen Bougher, who was taken off the disabled list on Thursday morning, struggled in his seventh outing of the season. In six full innings of work, Bougher gave up six runs on six hits, struck out five, and walked two.

The Saints bats got going early, as Tony Thomas roped a lead off triple to right center and was brought in with a sacrifice fly by Nate Hanson to put a dent in the scoreboard at 1-0.

The Saints added their second run in the third. Chad Christianson reached on an error and advanced to second on a Sam Maus groundout. Christianson then stole third. Breland Almadova walked, then as he attempted to steal second, Michael Pair attempted to throw him out, allowing Christianson to score from third to double the lead to 2-0.

St. Paul blew the game open in the fourth. Angelo Songco led off with a double. Tony Thomas singled to put runners at the corners. Bougher buckled in and struck out Willie Argo for out number one and got Tony Caldwell to pop out for the second out. But Christianson tattooed a Bougher pitch that was left up for a three-run homer to push the Saints lead to 5-0. They would add one more run in the fifth.

Jake Taylor hit a missile shot over the wall in right to put the Birds on the board in the sixth, and Michael Pair also hit a solo shot in the seventh to cut the lead to 6-2. The Birds’ bullpen also picked up the slack, as James Jones and Jimmer Kennedy came in and pitched near-perfect innings in the seventh and eighth, allowing only one baserunner on a one-out walk in the eighth.

The Birds made things interesting in the eighth. Darwin Perez singled with one away, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jake Taylor walked, and both runners were able to move into scoring position on a double steal. Perez scampered home on a David Bergin groundout to cut the deficit to three. Caleb Theilbar, a South Dakota State alum, came out of the Saints ‘pen and got Ozney Guillen to pop out to center to end the threat.

Saints closer Ryan Rodebaugh came in and tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to squelch any comeback attempts by the Canaries.

The Canaries head up to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to take on the Winnipeg Goldeyes for a weekend series before returning home for the Fourth of July. Friday’s matchup with be a late afternoon game with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Contact the Canaries ticket office for information regarding single game or season ticket options by calling 605-336-6060 or visit the website at www.sfcanaries.com for more information.